Grafting cyclodextrins to calcium phosphate ceramics for biomedical applications

The grafting of hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate with β-cyclodextrin was achieved using a two step reaction with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane as a linker. Firstly, the silane group was brought to react with the hydroxyl groups at the surface of the hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate and secondly, the epoxy group was brought to react with the β-cyclodextrin. The amount and distribution of covalently bound β-cyclodextrin were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, colorimetric total sugar assay, fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The concentration of grafted β-cyclodextrin was found to be approximately 3.5 μmol per gram of material corresponding to an almost complete surface coverage, when assuming a closed hexagonal packed monolayer.